The School

We are a successful, all ability 11 to 18 six form entry co educational Foundation School. We have approximately 1200 pupils on roll, including over 300 students in the Sixth Form.

We believe in the importance of supporting and encouraging all our students to succeed. It is our expectation that the majority of our pupils will complete their education in our Sixth Form.

To encourage achievement, effort grades and credit certificates are presented throughout the year for academic, artistic and social endeavour. Academic progress is monitored through a mentoring programme and regular assessment. All spupils are tested in formal end of year examinations.

Support teaching is an important feature of our approach to education. Pupils with learning difficulties are carefully assessed and given additional help in subject lessons.

There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their special interests and aptitudes, with many clubs connected to academic subjects as well as regular Music Concerts and Drama productions providing the opportunity not only to perform, but also to be involved 'backstage'.

Pupils have the opportunity to join teams in many different sports and participate in numerous inter school competitions.

Trips abroad to improve language skills and understanding of cultures take place to France and Germany. Winter ski-ing holidays are also organised.

We are very much part of the community and all Year groups become involved in charity work.

Each year we have a Prizegiving Evening to celebrate, through the distribution of trophies, medals and books, the full range of social, sporting and academic success of our pupils.

How the School is Organised

On entering our school, pupils are placed in one of six tutor groups under the pastoral care of a Form Tutor and Head of Year. They stay within this group to the end of Year 11 thereby ensuring that they have the continuity and stability necessary for success.

We seek to create an environment in which pupils feel that staff are available to listen to them, guide them and where necessary take action on their behalf. We find that this is best achieved by organising the School into three tiers, corresponding with each of the key stages. Each tier has a Head of School whose responsibility is to coordinate the work of the academic and pastoral teams to ensure that all our pupils achieve their very best.

Parental Contact

We believe that pupils progress most effectively when their parents are involved in their education. If problems occur, it is our policy to involve parents at an early stage and seek parental support in finding solutions. Every eight weeks all pupils are assessed on effort and attainment in all subjects and a report sent home. This allows parents to monitor their child's progress through the year. Parents may request meetings with the Head of Year and/or subject teachers to discuss any particular problems that may arise during the year.

There is a formal Parents Evening each year when parents have the opportunity to meet all the subject teachers to discuss progress.

Each term pupils are issued with an organiser in which to record all their homework. The organiser is also used to pass messages between parents and school. Parents are asked to check it regularly and sign it each week.

Attendance and Homework

The programmes of study in all subjects follow on from one lesson to the next and therefore regular and punctual attendance is an essential ingredient for success. We monitor attendance and punctuality regularly and request that parents always supply a note if an absence occurs. We ask, wherever possible, that attendance at the Dentist or Doctors be held outside of normal school hours.

Homework is given regularly in order to help develop self-reliance and the ability to work alone. It also provides the repetition and reinforcement which is indispensable in the acquisition of skills. We ask parents to help their children by encouraging them in their homework and ensuring that there is a quiet time at home for it to be completed. We recommend the following as a guide;

Years 7 and 8: 1 hour per evening
Year 9: 1 to 1.5 hours per evening
Years 10 and 11: 1.5 to 2 hours per evening
Sixth Form: 10 to 15 hours per week depending on courses